Riva Residenze: Giuseppina Arena Brings the Language of Yacht Design to Residential Living

MONACO – Outside, the Monaco Yacht Show was in full swing; inside the Riva Lounge at the Yacht Club de Monaco, however, the pace was decidedly different. It was here that designer Giuseppina Arena guided PressMare through Riva Residenze, the brand’s first residential project.

It All Starts with the Water

As a yacht designer, Arena naturally began with the location. Riva Residenze will rise along Fort Lauderdale’s Intracoastal Waterway, near Bahia Mar, in a setting with a special connection to the brand’s history. Arena recalls that the first fibreglass Riva yacht, launched in 1969, was named Bahia Mar 20. This geographical coincidence therefore takes on a particular significance, almost marking a return to a place already connected to the shipyard’s heritage.

The project is being developed by WellDuo, Vertical Developments and GCF Development in collaboration with Riva, with architectural design by Arquitectonica. Giuseppina Arena is responsible for the interior design, bringing together her experience in both yacht design and residential architecture. The tower will feature 36 residences ranging from approximately 2,000 to more than 8,000 square feet, while the upper levels will accommodate penthouses, each occupying an entire floor.

Designing with a Yacht Builder’s Mindset

The connection with the yachting world is most evident in the design approach. Arena spent nearly ten years leading interior yacht design for several Ferretti Group brands, an experience that has shaped her decisions for Riva Residenze. Rather than treating the development as a standalone real estate project, she approached it as an extension of the brand’s identity, applying the same design philosophy and attention to detail that characterise yacht design.

The challenge was to create a nautical design language capable of combining timeless elegance with contemporary sensibilities, while avoiding traditional maritime clichés. Aquamarine, a colour strongly associated with Riva, is subtly incorporated into the palette, while finely stitched leather, a distinctive feature of the shipyard’s yachts, is carried over into the interiors. The selection of materials follows the same principle: evoking the brand’s identity, heritage and design philosophy without turning the living spaces into mere replicas of yacht interiors.

All the Way to the Sundeck

The design journey culminates at the top of the building. The sundeck will feature an elevated infinity pool inspired by the beach club of the Riva 54Metri. On the level below, the sky lounge will include a private cinema, a wine room and a library, while the flooring will evoke the teak decks that are among the most recognisable features of Riva yachts.

The result is a project in which the connection to yachting is expressed not through overt decorative references, but through the translation of materials, proportions, details and design principles from yacht design into residential architecture.

Rebecca Gabbi

Credits: Pressmare